DPP salutes Malawi government on 2014 tripartite elections
Opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has saluted government for its unshaken determination to hold tripartite elections in 2014.
DPP Regional Governor for the North, Nick Aladini Masebo made the commendation Wednesday during a public hearing on wards demarcation organized by Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) at Chitipa Boma.
MEC held a public hearing to give platform to election stakeholders in the district to give their feedback on the new wards demarcated in 2010. The long awaited meeting gave the stakeholders a rare opportunity to critically screen the wards and make corrections on the names of the wards and centres.
Masebo, who is also Member of Parliament for Chitipa North, said government deserves commendation for making a bold decision to run the presidential, parliamentary and local government elections simultaneously in 2014, despite sailing through economic hardships.
He said government has demonstrated its appreciation that the difficult time the nation is navigating through, which needs much of its attention, cannot surpass the requirement to have the tripartite elections that would usher in the long awaited ward councilors.
“The government has the prerogative to weigh the options. In this regard, it could have shelved the elections [local government] to unknown date and cite economic hardships haunting the nation as the reason,” he said.
Masebo, who has just been promoted to lead the DPP Regional high office, following the defection of former regional governor, Revered Christopher Mzomera Ngwira to ruling People’s Party, (PP) added that the consensus reached by the government to hold tripartite elections smacks of great importance it attaches to democratic values and good governance.
“As DPP, we commend government for heeding calls from patriotic Malawians who have been pressing for local government elections to have councilors who are key in enhancement of development in the communities,” he said.
The Parliamentarian, however, observed that holding three elections at once was not an easy task. He said the process requires a lot of resources and special commitment to ensure credible elections.
He then warned government against compromising the electoral process by among other things, providing meager funding so that some crucial activities lined up in the process in the run up to elections suffer.
The guest of honour at the function, Commissioner Reverend Allan Chiphiko said it was the wish of his commission to ensure that the 2014 tripartite elections are not only free and fair but also highly credible.
“ As a commission, we are determined and well geared to do our best so that the 2014 tripartite elections are the best ever and serve as a model to other countries,” he said.
Chitipa District has five constituencies and ten wards spread across its five traditional authorities.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
